Tiger Plays Practice Round at Hazeltine

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CHASKA, Minn. -- Tiger Woods tried to play a practice round in relative quiet Tuesday at Hazeltine National Golf Club. But the secret got out and a small crowd trailed Woods for much of the back nine.

Woods and fellow pro Mark O'Meara played the course to prepare for next week's PGA Championship. It was Woods' first visit to Hazeltine and an opportunity to get familiar with the layout of the course.

Jim Arnold, a retired teacher who works in the pro shop at Hazeltine, served as Woods' caddy. ''My heart was racing as fast as could be,'' he said.

Woods often plays at least one early practice round at the site of major championships. He typically gives short notice to avoid word leaking out and having a crowd gather.

Barry Deach, PGA Championship tournament director, received word late last week that Woods would stop at Hazeltine on Tuesday. Security guards stopped journalists from entering the front gate during his round.

A security guard and police officer followed Woods and O'Meara on the course to ensure they were not bothered.

''He's in the spotlight every single day,'' Deach said. ''They asked us to keep it under the radar so he could have an enjoyable round.''

After the round, Woods flew to Michigan to play in the Buick Open, which begins Thursday in Grand Blanc.